National Palace of Pena — Attraction in Sintra

Very busy but beautiful. I’d recommend buying your timed-entry ticket online from the national park admin site. Would also recommend the bus transfer ticket (per person) unless you don’t mind a very steep (paved) walk from the park/garden gate entry to the palace (10-15 minute walk, strenuous)

Once atop the hill you’ll have access to the palace but only as a timed entry. You will be placed in a Que based on your ticket time and cannot enter prior. Don’t miss your time either, we witnessed multiple groups and individuals turned away with expired tickets (your ticket is good for 30 minutes) which forced them to buy new tickets at the palace gate or leave without walking thru the palace.

Once inside you’ll walk in-step with a crowd from one room to another. There is almost no time or space to move about on your own as the corridors and rooms are small where you’re allowed to walk.

We paid for the app download which provides an audio guide. We were not able to use it because our cell phone service was poor to nonexistent, we were unable to download the audio portion of the guide and streaming was never going to work given the cell signal. The guide may have been useful and informational but I would recommend downloading it long ahead of time where you have reliable cell service or wifi (not available on site).

The palace is beautiful inside but the exterior is where the real sites are. There are a couple windows along the walking path indoors where you’ll catch a very brief glimpse of a fantastic view over the low lands below.

We are pleased with the experience overall. It was very busy on a Sunday, as expected for a UNESCO world heritage site and would recommend the trip from Lisbon.

The train from Lisbon was simple and can be accessed via round trip ticket or rechargeable Lisbon card. It’s the typical train without assigned seating and will almost surely be very full for your trip to Sintra. We were on a 9am train, it’s about 45 minutes voyage, arriving in the city of Sintra and walked about five minutes to a less busy area to hail an Uber ($5-7) for a ride to the palace entry gate.

Some adventurous folks set out to hike to the top but that will likely take nearly 40+ minutes and is arduous. There are are busses, taxi and tuktuk from the train station. The Uber was our choice over the rest, we waited less than 5 minutes for the driver and it was a pleasant ride.

We took an Uber down to a local restaurant, ate lunch and then shopped before taking a 14:50 train back to Rossio station. There very few on the train until the third stop, at that point it was packed with city commuters.

Tickets are available on-site at the main gate but large tourist busses drop off and huge crowds of people gather in que for park entry, there is a separate line to buy tickets but that...

🏰 Early Morning Magic at Pena Palace — A Fairytale in Portugal

We visited Pena Palace, arriving early in the morning to beat the crowds—and it felt like stepping into a live-action fairytale castle. The vivid yellow and red walls rising above the forested hills of Sintra looked straight out of a storybook (or maybe a Disney sketch!), yet the palace was built long before any Mouse ever dreamed it.

🎨 Why This Palace Feels So Magical

Originally a convent dating from the 16th century, the palace was transformed in the 19th century by Ferdinand II of Portugal into a summer residence for the royal family, combining Gothic, Moorish, Neo-Manueline and Renaissance styles into one bold, colorful design. 

Perched atop the Sintra mountains in Portugal, it commands sweeping views over the forests and Atlantic coast.  Its architecture and setting aren’t just beautiful—they’re dramatic. So yes, you’ll understand why many call it “Disney-inspired” even though it predates Disneyland by more than a century.

🎟️ Arriving early meant shorter lines, softer light, and a peaceful stroll through the terraces before the crowds arrived. I wandered the ramparts, peeked inside the richly decorated rooms with their tiled walls and vaulted ceilings, and paused at the panoramas that stretch across the valley. The vibrant colours of the façade, the whimsical towers, and even the mythic Triton’s Gate made us feel like explorers in a dream castle. 

👍 What Stands Out • Iconic, brightly-coloured palace perched high above Sintra—so photogenic. • Rich layers of history: from monastery to royal palace to UNESCO heritage site.  • Spectacular views & lush surrounding park with exotic trees and winding paths.

👎 What to Know • It’s uphill and can involve walking/steep paths—wear comfortable shoes.  • Mid-morning on, it gets busy—lines form for the interior rooms. • Sometimes fog or mist rolls in on the mountain top—beautiful, but might obscure views.

🔑 Pro Tips • Arrive right at opening time to capture the magic before full crowd sets in. • Book your tickets in advance with a timed entry slot—simplifies the experience.  • Explore the Pena Park around the palace too—the trees, bridges, and hidden corners are worth it. • Bring a lightweight layer—higher altitude and forested setting mean cooler air than Lisbon and wear pants—it can be super windy! • Bonus photo-tip: find a vantage spot with the palace in colour and the forest below for maximum effect.

❤️ Standing at Pena Palace at first light, I felt like I’d stepped into a fairy-tale come to life—go early, soak in every window, tower and terrace… and leave feeling like royalty for a day.✨

#PenaPalace...

After the natural wonders of Madeira, we turned our attention to one of Portugal's most famous man-made marvels. Landing in Lisbon, we made the strategic decision to drive straight to Sintra and stay overnight, setting ourselves up for what would become one of the highlights of our Portuguese adventure.

Our plan was simple but effective: be the first ones at Pena Palace when it opened. While most visitors make day trips from Lisbon, arriving later in the morning to find crowds and queues, we set our alarm for dawn, determined to experience this fairy-tale palace in solitude. As we made our way up the winding road to Pena Palace in the early morning light, Sintra's mysterious atmosphere was in full effect. The town is famous for its microclimate, often shrouded in mist, and this morning didn't disappoint. The fog swirled through the trees of the Pena Park, creating an ethereal atmosphere that made the upcoming experience feel even more magical.

When we arrived at the entrance, the morning air was still crisp, and the palace was just opening its doors. Our hearts raced with excitement as we realized we were indeed the first visitors of the day. The ticket counter had just opened, and within minutes, we were walking through the palace gates, completely alone. For the next five minutes, we had one of Portugal's most visited monuments entirely to ourselves. The experience was surreal. The normally bustling palace was silent except for our footsteps and the occasional call of early morning birds.

We quickly made our way to the palace's iconic terrace, where the yellow and red towers rose before us like something from a storybook. Without another soul in sight, we could truly appreciate the whimsical architecture and bold colors of the palace against the misty morning sky. These few minutes were photography heaven. We could capture the palace's most famous views without a single person in our shots - a rare privilege at one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations. The morning light was perfect, softly illuminating the palace's vibrant facades and intricate details.

The Palace of Pena is a captivating blend of architectural styles - from Neo-Gothic to Neo-Manueline to Neo-Islamic - reflecting the romantic ideals of 19th-century architecture. King Ferdinand II's vision was to create a palace that looked like an opera set, and as we explored its fantastical details, we could see how brilliantly...